A stranger comes to a small town and he has a large hump on his back. The villagers are curious and ask him about it. He tells them the hump is a view of all the sins he has committed throughout his life. Some of the villagers don’t believe him and ask to see their own humps. He grants their request and they end up with humps of various sizes. They then want the humps  removed but the stranger can’t do that and advises them to go on a journey to ……. somewhere I can’t remember which I think is the title of the book. The main characters are two children who have to go on this journey with other hump-backed villagers who gradually drop out along the way.
I vaguely remember reading this book in the 1970’s. It might have had a tree design on the front cover.
Perhaps “The Land of Far-Beyond” by Enid Blyton, that was inspired by John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”?
Yes – you are right! Thank you so much – for years I had it in my head that it was The land of the faraway tree also by Enid Blyton, but the story didn’t match up with my memory. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you!
Diane